Citizen Staff Writer
UA FOOTBALL
JOHN MOREDICH
jmoredich@tucsoncitizen.com
Arizona associate head coach Dana Dimel has been away from Kansas State for a long time, but he considers it home.
The UA running backs/tight ends coach is going back to Manhattan, Kan., after accepting the same position with Kansas State on Tuesday.
“I am really going to miss Arizona, and the players and everybody I have met here, but there is something about being able to go back home,” Dimel said.
“I will be back with my son again, and there are people in the area that I have known for 20-some years. It is a place I built my coaching career and a comfortable feeling for me.”
The Kansas State graduate got his coaching start there in 1987 as a graduate assistant to Bill Snyder. He became a full-time coach at KSU in 1996.
Dimel will reunite with Snyder following three years as an Arizona assistant and head coaching duties at Wyoming (1997-99) and Houston (2000-02).
Snyder stepped down as KSU coach after 2005, but was rehired in December.
Dimel said Snyder’s return and being able to see more of Winston, his 13-year old son who lives in the area, was too difficult to pass up.
“My son is so excited having me back there,” he said. “He is already planning to stay with me at the hotel I’ll be staying at until my home here is sold.”
Dimel is credited with the improved play of Arizona running backs such as Nic Grigsby and Keola Antolin, as well as tight end Rob Gronkowski.
UA will seek a replacement before spring drills begin in March.
“Dana’s been a real asset to the program for the past three years,” said UA coach Mike Stoops. “He will be deeply missed.”